Courage: An Ugly, Difficult Idea

In a moment of weakness,

deep and harsh and full

of terror, Courage is

hiding. It hides from

kings, emperors; even

the holy men of Rome

find their courage

hidden from their pious

hands.

If it is so hard to find,

is the search worth...

anything?

Nothing.

Will it ever be?

NO.

YES.

MAYBE?

Maybe.

MaybeMaybeMaybeMaybeMaybe

Maybe the war will stop

in the presence of waving

white flags and tense

handshakes. Maybe it would

yield to compromising

treaties and unwilling

cease-fires. To enemies

being beaten down and

allies feeling victory.

Maybe the fight will

stop. Stop and never

come back.

But it would always come

back. Always.

Never stopping. Never

Ending.

And an ending is what we

all want. What we all need.

Too bad our endings end when

we lose. When our enemies

force our submission and

mangle our signatures onto

their treaties.

Courage. What is it? Where

does it go? Why is it so hard

to find?

And how

does it choose

those worthy

to carry its

approval?